Inspiration, ideas and information to help women build public speaking content, confidence and credibility. Denise Graveline is a Washington, DC-based speaker coach who has coached nearly 200 TEDMED and TEDx speakers--including one of 2016's most popular TED talks. She also has prepared speakers for presentations, testimony, and keynotes. She offers 1:1 coaching and group workshops in public speaking, presentation and media interview skills to both men and women.

Every time you leave something that you feel strongly about unsaid, you take away your own power. You listen to the critical voice inside that says, “that wasn’t that important anyway,” “maybe that’s a stupid idea,” “I’ll let someone else say it first.” The more you listen to that voice, the louder it gets.

The post includes lots of useful advice, including the preparatory steps you need to take so that you'll feel ready and confident when the time comes to speak up. I'd add that you should frame these types of statements starting with "I" -- it's a confident, powerful construction, and has the advantage that no one can contradict what you're thinking or feeling on a topic if you are solely speaking for yourself. (Check out my lists of the 5 weakest speaker statements and the 6 strongest speaker statements--the latter group all start with "I.")

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